Knightley sexually assaulted four times

ACTRESS Keira Knightley says she has been sexually assaulted and praised the bravery of women who have come forward as part of the #MeToo movement.

The 32-year-old star of the Imitation Game and the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise said none of the assaults were during her work in Hollywood - but in bars on nights out.

She told Variety: "I'm fortunate that I've never been sexually abused professionally or harassed on a film set, but in my personal life, when I've been in bars, I can count four times when I've been what I'd say was assaulted in a minor way.

"I think everyone has battled their fair share of monsters.

"It's not just actresses. It's teachers; it's lawyers.

"I'm not talking about rape, but I'm talking about the people who had been grabbed in pubs or their breasts had been fondled by somebody they didn't know or they'd had someone shove a hand up their skirt."

Knightley, who is married to musician James Righton, said she only had "professional" encounters with disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein when she worked on The Imitation Game and Begin Again.

"He certainly never asked me for massages or anything like that," she added.

She also praised victims for sharing their stories and says the film industry must find ways to ensure the culture of abuse, intimidation and silence is broken.

In April the Hollywood star and her husband been given the go-ahead to beef up security measures at her home after saying their Grade II-listed home was being "compromised" by a stalker.

This article was originally published by The Sun and appears here with permission.